How can we cure paranoia?

Saturday

May 30, 2009 at 5:02 PM

To The Editor: With respect to proposed closure of Guantanamo detention facility, Washington elected officials seem to be afflicted with paranoia disease.This disease also occurred during World War II when thousands of west coast Japanese-Americans were uprooted and moved inland to live behind barbed wire. Fear was that these Americans would aid Japan if the west coast was attacked. No credible evidence ever surfaced that these folks were disloyal to the U.S.Paranoia also overtook reason during the communist scare in the ’50s. Promoted by Sen. Joe McCarthy, those fears were proven groundless after careers of many innocent citizens were ruined.Now it is proposed to close Guantanamo and transfer alleged terrorists to the U.S. to face charges and trials. Fear is being raised that these defendants will either escape or somehow recruit new terrorists. We have maximum security prisons from which no one has ever escaped, but senators are saying “not in my back yard.” Paranoia has taken over once again.The only known cures for this affliction are backbone injections administered by rational voters to their elected officials. If this fails, officials can be replaced by electing those who have the fortitude to fight off this paranoia disease.Steve FranksHendersonville

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